Obituary of Harry McLoughlin Gardner III

Harry McLoughlin Gardner III, of Homer, NY, passed away one week shy of his 94th birthday, on Monday, January 26th, at Cortland Guthrie Medical Center. Harry passed peacefully after a brief illness, surrounded by his children and the excellent nursing and medical staff who tended to him in his last days with great care and compassion.

Harry was born on February 1, 1932, in Lansdowne, PA, to Grace and Harry M. Gardner, Jr. Harry was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Lynn and Lorraine Gardner, of Freeville, NY, and is survived by his sister, Marilyn Gardner Noble, of Portland, ME. Harry graduated from Ridgewood High School, NJ, in 1950. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he obtained a BS in Civil Engineering, and later received an MBA from Iona College. Harry worked for AT&T in White Plains, NY, for many years as an engineer. His outdoor field work was during the buildout of the national telephone network infrastructure expansion, and he still recalled where these cables crossed major highways. He retired in 1986 and then started his own home contracting company in White Plains, which allowed him to continue his love of building and outdoor physical work. Harry was a Boy Scout troop leader in White Plains Troop 10 for many years. He was previously an active member of the Memorial United Methodist Church, and he enjoyed wilderness camp gatherings in the North Creek, NY area. He relocated to Homer, NY in 2015, where he became a Meals on Wheels volunteer, and was active with the Scott and Homer Senior Centers, where he loved playing cards with his newfound friends.

Harry met Joyce Clark in 1957, and they married in 1958. Harry and Joyce made their life in White Plains, where they raised their four children. He is survived by Harry Alton of Rockville Center, NY, Mark Andrew (Banchai) of White Plains, NY, Elaine Gardner Sears (Stephen) of Cortland, NY, and Alison Gardner Thornhill (Chris) of Pompton Lakes, NJ. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Emily Gardner (Matt Bender), Kathleen Gardner (Brandon Steiner), Meg Gardner (Nate Kovarik), Brett Gardner, Kimberly Gardner, Collin Sears (Ellen), Taylor Sears, Grace Thornhill, and Dylan Thornhill, as well as several much loved nieces and nephews, eight great-grandchildren, and a special friend, Jacki Daugherty.

Harry and Joyce eventually divorced, and Harry spent many years afterwards in Mahopac, NY, with his partner Irmgard (Mo) Jagger, who predeceased him. He is survived by Mo’s daughter, Donna Jagger Johnson of West Lake Village, CA, and predeceased by her other daughter, Tina (David) Burbank of Bedford Corners, NY. He has four grandchildren of Mo’s: Samantha Johnson, Peter Johnson, Madeline Burbank Conlee, and Katherine Burbank.

Harry will be remembered by many for his sense of humor, his zest for discussing politics, his love of Owasco Lake and the Jersey Shore, and spending time with family and friends.

The family will hold a private memorial service and celebration of life at a later date. Donations in memory of Harry may be made to any of his favorite charities, including;

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital – http://www.stjudes.org

Shriner’s Hospital Club – https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org

The Sierra Club – http://www.sierraclub.org